Top Judiciary Dem threatens to subpoena acting AG Whitaker

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) said Sunday that the House Judiciary Committee will subpoena acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker in January if he won’t voluntarily testify in front of the committee.

Nadler, the ranking member and likely next chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said on CNN’s “State of the Union” that the committee will hold hearings on Trump’s appointment of Whitaker when the new Congress takes office.

Nadler added that the “very first witness” the committee will interview will be Whitaker.

“The president’s dismissal of Attorney General Sessions and his appointment of Whitaker, who’s a complete political lackey, is a real threat to the integrity of that investigation,” he said of special counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing probe into Russia’s election interference.{mosads}

“[The Mueller investigation] is of utmost importance in making sure that we adhere to the rule of law and that the administration is held accountable. And we will certainly hold hearings on that. Our very first witness after Jan. 3, we will subpoena — or we will summon and if necessary subpoena Mr. Whitaker,” Nadler added.

Rep. Jerry Nadler, the likely chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, says he will summon — and if necessary subpoena — acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/VcFl8wO453

— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) November 11, 2018

Jeff Sessions resigned last week from his post as attorney general at the request of President Trump, who then appointed Whitaker as acting attorney general.

The appointment has been harshly criticized by Democrats, who have expressed concerns over Whitaker’s history of criticizing Mueller’s investigation.

Whitaker previously said that the Mueller investigation has “gone too far” and suggested that a replacement for Sessions should slash funding for Mueller’s investigation in an effort to hinder it. 

Nadler said Sunday on “State of the Union” that the Judiciary Committee plans to question Whitaker about each of his past comments regarding the investigation he now oversees.